Lithuanian Mythology, Gods, Goddesses and Magical Creatures

Baltic fairy is known as lauma (singular) (plural laumes). Worship of these creatures in Baltic lands dates back to Mesolithic times and belief for them is even older than Baltic pantheon with different gods and goddesses. Laumes were servants of Laima the Baltic goddess of faith. Laumes were also closely connected to Baltic earth goddess Zemyna. Worship of the mother earth is ancient and dates back over 30 000 years within Europe. Both Zemyna and Laima were some of the most worshipped and respected goddesses in Latvia and Lithuania during Pre-Christian times.

There isn't a lot of information available on Dievas's appearance. He was described as a young man wearing silver, felt, and silken attire. He also carried a sparkling silver (and occasionally green) sword that reflected the mindset of former Baltic dukes. He was instructed to dress in a grey coat and a white shirt. He occasionally wore a mask so that people wouldn't view him as a king. Dievas had the power to transform into an old man, and while in that shape, he went from house to house and village to village, aiding people and offering them presents.

​Žemyna was very much beloved goddess by the ancient Balts. Žemyna was the personification of the earth. She was the goddess who nourished all life; humans, plants and animals. Everything rose from her and returned to her. Every major celebration began with an invocation to Žemyna. The head of the household filled a ladle with beer and poured some into the ground while saying a prayer. They drank some beer and thanked the gods and the other members of the household. Then he passed the ladle on and everyone got a chance to express their gratitude. In rituals, black pigs and multiple slices of bread were left as sacrifices. She was one of the daughters of the sun goddess Saulė. Žemyna had a brother called Žemepatis who protected farmsteads and households.

Lithuania lies next to the Baltic sea and the mythology also includes stories about mermaids and sea goddesses. The story of the sea goddess Jurate, explains the origins of natural elements from the Baltic Sea and like many stories about sea goddess around the world, sadly this story does not have happy ending either.

Name of the sea goddess was Jurate coming from the lithuanian word Jura meaning the sea. Jurate lived in the Baltic sea in an underwater palace that was completely made of amber. She was the goddess of the sea and the sea animals.

In Lithuanian and Latvian folklore, Ragana is the goddess of witches. Her name comes from the verb regeti which means "to know, see and foresee," and the noun ragas meaning "horn" and "crescent." Her name implies that she "knows" and she "sees," and she is connected to the crescent moon, a common symbol of witches.

Austeja is the goddess of bees, and it was believed that she was the goddess of growth, plentifulness and reproduction. Austeja was already mentioned in Lithuanian literature in the 17th century. J.Lasicki wrote that she was the protector of families and the true mother of bees. Austeja is a woman and a bee in one person.

Her name is linked to the Lithuanian verb "austi" - to weave (linen) and austyti - to fly swiftly everywhere, to shut and close doors repeatedly. This, of course, is a metaphor for gathering honey and building honeycombs.

Fire was not of this earth. Ancient people viewed it as a supernatural element. According to Lithuanian lore, fire first belonged to the devil. Then, the gods sent a swallow to the underworld to steal a bit of fire and bring it back to humanity. The bird succeeded, but her tail was burned during the journey, and that is why it is shaped like a “V” to this day.

In Latvian myths, fairytales and folklore, devil is not an evil character. He is easily fooled by Dievs, God, and by people. He is physically strong, but he is lazy. The realm of the devil was not like Christian Hell. It was more similar to our world. Entrances to his kingdom were in forest, rivers, graveyards, swamps, caves, under rocks and in the sea. It was believed that the devil kidnapped people and took them to his world.

The term vélé, which denotes a spirit of the dead, is the origin of the name Velnias. The most well-known Velnias mythology is from the Baltic region. He was the underworld's deity, but he was also linked to commerce, hunting, and agriculture. He collaborated closely with the sky god Dievas, either as an enemy or an ally. He resembles the Scandinavian god Odin, the Hindu gods Varuna and Vritra, as well as the Prussian god Patula. Velnias is one of the most well-known figures in Lithuanian folklore and is frequently cited in superstitions, religious doctrines, poetry, and music. His persona changed to represent the Christian Satan after the arrival of Christianity.